Tebogo Msimanga |
The Pretoria North Magistrates’ Courts sentenced Thabo Benson Mashigo (32), from Soshanguve to 20 years and 6 Months imprisonment for attempted murder, robbery and common assault of the mother of his 3-year-old baby. All the incidents happened in 2020 after the mother of his baby broke up with him.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) North Gauteng Regional Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said in November 2020, the victim was walking home in Merry me informal settlements in Soshanguve, when she saw Mashigo driving past and he stopped the car, threatened the victim with the knife, forced her in the car, and drove off with her to the bushes close to N17.
“While in the car Mashigo continued to ask the mother of his child if they could fix things and get back together, however, the mother refused. When they arrived by the bushes he took a rope from the car and asked which one she preferred, the knife or the rope and she chose the rope.”
Mashigo hung her up and took her cell phone and left. She regained consciousness after the tree branch broke and ran to the N17 road where a stranger took her to the police station, and the case was opened and she was then taken to the clinic for medical assistance.
“Two days later Mashigo was arrested and the cell phone was recovered. Mashigo has been in custody since his arrest. In court, he only pleaded guilty to a charge of assault.”
Prosecutor David Molokomme told the court that this is typical Gender-Based Violence (GBV) case and should be treated with the seriousness it deserves. The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the sentence.
